Robert motherwell 19151991 helped forge a new vision of painting that established abstract expressionism at the vanguard of postwar painting and transformed new york into the epicenter of the art world in the second half of the twentiethcentury. For a hundred years, modern painters, stubbornly and in the face of incessant hostility, have moved, step by step, leaving superb monuments by the wayside, towards an art of arrangement whose expressiveness depends less and less upon its elements imitating the objects of the external world. The collected writings of robert motherwell by robert motherwell. His family shifted to san francisco, a few years after his birth. Robert motherwell united states abstract expressionist painter motherwell. Robert motherwell prints and multiples 123 for sale at. Jul 18, 1991 robert motherwell, a major presence on the american art scene for nearly 50 years and one of the last giants of the abstract expressionist movement, died on tuesday afternoon on cape cod. Robert motherwell book prize history of art department. Robert motherwell, american painter, one of the founders and principal exponents of abstract expressionism q. We blog regularly on facebook and announce special events and special sales on both sites. Robert motherwell 1915 1991 red sea ii walker art center 242 etching and aquatint printed in red and black, 1979, signed in pencil and numbered 69100 total edition includes 20 artists proofs in roman numerals, on german etching paper, with the artists blindstamp, published by abrams original editions, inc. Robert motherwell 19151991, one of the leading american abstract expressionist painters, was also a theorist and exponent of the movement.
Because this book draws together a wide selection of his writing and lectures for many different purposes, you get to see him churn over some of the same ideas and problems in different contexts. First edition, illustrated with 325 color and blackandwhite plates, signed by motherwell. Wallach art gallery at columbia university an exhibition that was conceived and. His esteemed intellect not only undergirded his gorgeous, expressive paintingsfrequently featuring bold black shapes against. Motherwell was in fact a most extraordinary draftsman, as this volume testifies. Robert motherwell by motherwell pleynet marcelin abebooks. Reiko tomii wins the robert motherwell book award the mit press.
Books by robert motherwell author of the dada painters and. Robert motherwell paintings and collages yale university press. His esteemed intellect not only undergirded his gorgeous, expressive paintingsfrequently featuring bold black shapes against fields of colorbut also made motherwell one of the leading writers, theorists, and. Robert motherwell was born in aberdeen, washington on january 24, 1915, the first child of robert burns motherwell ii and margaret. Not only a seminal painter in the movement eventually referred to as abstract expressionism, he was also a primary theorist and spokesperson for the avantgarde art that developed mainly in new york city during the. Eugenics in the garden wins 2019 robert motherwell book award. About robert motherwell finding his place in the abstract expressionism hall of fame alongside jackson pollock and mark rothko, robert motherwell is best known for his elegy to the spanish republic series which he worked on throughout his lifeover 140 paintings memorializing the injustices of the spanish civil war featuring bold black shapes on a white background.
His impulsive and intuitive approach that has been. Robert motherwell january 24, 1915 july 16, 1991 was an american painter, printmaker, and editor. Artist page for robert motherwell 19151991 black mountain college was a highly influential college founded at black mountain, north carolina, usa, in 1933 where teaching was. Robert motherwell black mountain state i 1980 limited edition print. May 25, 2007 robert motherwell 19151991, one of the leading american abstract expressionist painters, was also a theorist and exponent of the movement. Robert motherwell book award the dedalus foundation. Motherwell retrospective, signed by the artist motherwell, robert arnason, h. We are thrilled to announce that reiko tomiis radicalism in the wilderness has been selected for the 2017 robert motherwell book award. Over a long and distinguished career, robert motherwell was the recipient of numerous awards and honors, and his works are on display in museums throughout the world. This site uses cookies to deliver our services, improve performance, for analytics, and if not signed in for advertising. Reproduced in color and in a generous format are more than a hundred of the artists finest works on paper. The book is published to accompany an exhibition at the miriam and ira d. Motherwell was revered largely on the pacific coast, where he developed a love for the broad spaces and bright colours that later emerged as essential characteristics of his abstract paintings.
Fine arts museums of san francisco, achenbach read more. In the introduction to his 2015 book robert motherwell, the making of an american giant, gallery. The writings of robert motherwell documents of twentiethcentury art hardcover. A numbered edition of 7,000 with a robert motherwell lithograph bound in as frontispiece in as new condition. The making of an american giant, published to coincide with motherwells centenary, author bernard jacobson examines motherwells art in the context of 20thcentury american culture. Sothebys is offering this open series work above, as well as two other motherwell paintings at its may contemporary art day. Trained in philosophy, motherwell became an artist, regarded as among the most. Robert motherwell book award book awards librarything. Robert motherwell definition of robert motherwell by the. Signed and dated to lower right r motherwell 197279. The dedalus foundation was founded in 1981 by the artist robert motherwell to support public understanding and appreciation of the principles of modern art and modernism. Robert motherwell 19151991 helped forge a new vision of painting that established abstract expressionism at the vanguard of postwar painting and transformed new york into the epicenter of the art world in. Robert motherwell died in provincetown, massachusetts, on july 16, 1991.
Thick, oblong quarto, original pictorial paper boards, original red acetate wraparound band. Robert motherwell was an american artist and seminal abstract expressionist painter. Books by robert motherwell author of the dada painters. See more ideas about robert motherwell, abstract expressionism and abstract. Robert motherwell prints and multiples 123 for sale at 1stdibs. Medieval studies van courtlandt elliott prize medieval academy of america for a first article. Robert motherwell book prize history of art department history of. American artist robert motherwell was the youngest of the infamous new york abstract expressionist movement, which included jackson pollock, ad reinhardt and barnett newman. Robert motherwell was the youngest of the protagonists in the epic tale of the abstract expressionist movement in new yorkin the 1940s and 1950s, yet he would become one of its most eloquent theoreticians and create one of its most indelible archetypal compositions with his deeply moving series of spanish elegies.
Americas music and literature were indigenous triumphs, while its art was slowly learning to become american. Robert motherwell was an american painter, printmaker, and editor. Robert motherwell, a major presence on the american art scene for nearly 50 years and one of the last giants of the abstract expressionist movement, died on. Find an indepth biography, exhibitions, original artworks for sale, the latest news, and sold auction prices. Lithograph on offwhite, handmade paper with the publishers watermark printed from three aluminum plates. The book has some fold out plates, and is designed with such care and skill that it has quickly become a cherished book. Although younger, the maturity expressed within his paintings, lithographs, collages and limited edition prints set the intellectual tone for the abstract expressionist movement and made him. Printers proof framed with plexiglass floated on acidfree board in matte black wood fra.
In beige with blue 1970, acrylic and charcoal on canvas, 23 78 x 29 12 inches the dedalus foundation. Robert motherwell january 24, 1915 july 16, 1991 was an american abstract expressionist painter, printmaker, and editor. Robert motherwell january 24, 1915 july 16, 1991 was an american abstract expressionist. The prize recognizes original research by a graduate student that engages with the holdings of the smithsonians archives of american art and. Robert motherwell was an american painter, printmaker and editor. Finding his place in the abstract expressionism hall of fame alongside jackson pollock and mark rothko, robert motherwell is best known for his elegy to the spanish republic series which he worked on throughout his lifeover 140 paintings memorializing the injustices of the spanish civil war featuring bold black shapes on a white. Robert motherwell s most popular book is dialogues with marcel duchamp. The collected writings of robert motherwell robert. Art and textile politics u chicago, 2017 was awarded the 2018 robert motherwell book prize from the. More than 500 editions in every printmaking medium. Discover book depositorys huge selection of robert motherwell books online. The complete prints 19401991 presents for the first time a definitive catalogue raisonne of this aspect of the artists work, documenting more than 500 editions with all new research, photography, and commentary, and incorporating previously uncatalogued material. Robert motherwells most popular book is dialogues with marcel duchamp.
Signed original lithograph from madrid suite 196566 by robert motherwell 1915 1991. Robert motherwell 1915 1991 was one of the preeminent abstract expressionists and a spokesperson. He was the oldest child of robert burns motherwell ii and margaret hogan motherwell. Not only a seminal painter in the movement eventually referred to as abstract expressionism, he was also a primary theorist and spokesperson for the avantgarde art that developed mainly in new york city during the second world war. Visits paris, venice, dubrovnik, athens, greek islands and london with family during summer. One of the great 20th century abstract expressionists who made new york the centre of the art world, motherwell was the most committed, innovative, and prolific printmaker of his generation. If you find this still affordable, buy it, and revel in the days of high art. Buy robert motherwell 88 original artworks for sale.
Early collages, published to accompany an exhibition devoted exclusively to motherwells works on paper from the 1940s and early 1950s, reexamines the origins of the artists style and his revelatory encounter with the papier colle technique that he described in 1944 as the greatest of our discoveries. As a child, he suffered from asthma and spent most of his school education in california. Art and textile politics u chicago, 2017 was awarded the 2018 robert motherwell book prize from the dedalus foundation. Motherwell was a lucid writer who used every opportunity to try to explain the emerging and later fading modernist movement to the lay public.
A journal of collaboration by motherwell, robert and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. See available prints and multiples, paintings, and works on paper for sale and learn about the artist. Motherwells work is for me a paradox, though i find his methods and practice highly interesting, with such a strong element of reasoning. Fabiola lopezduran mithtc phd 2009 received the 2019 robert motherwell book award from the dedalus foundation. Robert motherwell was born on 24 january 1915, at aberdeen, washington. More than 500 editions in every printmaking medium with all new research and commentary. Robert motherwell has 30 books on goodreads with 2846 ratings. Robert motherwell was born in aberdeen, washington, in 1915. Retrospective exhibition at the museum of modern art, new york, which travels to museums in amsterdam, london, brussels, essen and turin through 1966. A precocious youth, motherwell received a scholarship to study art when he was 11 years old. Robert motherwell synonyms, robert motherwell pronunciation, robert motherwell translation, english dictionary definition of robert motherwell.
Motherwell s work is for me a paradox, though i find his methods and practice highly interesting, with such a strong element of reasoning. Robert motherwell lament for lorca 1981, miniature lithograph for promotional flyer, edition of 3,000, very good condition. Robert motherwell american abstract expressionist artist. He studied philosophy at stanford university, california, and received his ba in 1937. Later that year he studied painting briefly at the california school of fine arts in san francisco before undertaking graduate work in philosophy at harvard university from 1937 to 1938. Robert motherwell biography childhood, life achievements. In the history of art, only a handful of great artists have been able to articulate the nature of the creative process. Roberto matta introduced motherwell to the surrealist concept of automatic drawings. Motherwell is designated as executor of smiths estate. Robert motherwell 1915 1991 united states is an artist born in 1915 the oldest auction result ever registered on the website for an artwork by this artist is a drawingwatercolor sold in 1984, at sothebys, and the most recent auction result is a printmultiple sold in 2020. Finding his place in the abstract expressionism hall of fame alongside jackson pollock and mark rothko, robert motherwell is best known for his elegy to the spanish republic series which he worked on throughout his lifeover 140 paintings memorializing the injustices of the spanish civil war featuring bold black shapes on a white background. For inhouse shipping our fees include all packaging time and materials, handling, insurance. This exhibition displays all 24 sheets of the book held in the special collections of the research library at the getty research institute.